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Progesterone cream

Also called: USP progesterone, bioidentical progesterone cream

An over-the-counter skin cream that contains real progesterone, a hormone made by the ovaries after ovulation. It is a hormone, not an herb, and strength varies widely between products.

Supplements can interact with medications and aren't right for everyone, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with a chronic condition. Ask your provider before you start.

Studied for

  • Perimenopause symptoms, such as sleep changes and heavy or irregular cycles (mixed research)
  • PMS (limited research)
  • Hot flashes (some studies, mixed results)

Found naturally in

  • Made by the ovaries after ovulation, and by the placenta in pregnancy
  • Not found in foods. Wild yam and soy contain a plant compound used in labs to make progesterone, but the body can't convert it.
What variations of progesterone cream exist?Our top pick, what to skip, and how to read the label

Label red flags

  • 'Natural progesterone' or wild yam products that don't list USP progesterone as an ingredient
  • No stated amount of progesterone per pump or per measured dose
  • Claims that it balances estrogen or replaces prescription hormone therapy

Check with a provider

  • Using estrogen in any form. Progesterone cream may not protect the uterine lining, so this needs a prescriber.
  • History of breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer, or other hormone-sensitive conditions
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive
  • Unexplained vaginal bleeding, blood clots, stroke, or liver disease
  • Use it with a prescriber who tracks symptoms and levels. Saliva and blood tests can give very different readings after skin creams.

Products that contain it

5 products in Dr. Lesher's dispensary list progesterone cream on the label.

Check with your provider before taking any of these, especially if you're pregnant or take medications.

Parts of the body it affects

Explore what each area does and the conditions that can affect it.

Illustration of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries

Reproductive organs

Your ovaries and uterus shape your cycle, fertility, and hormones. Sex hormones also influence the immune system, one reason autoimmune disease is more common in women.

Illustrations: Servier Medical Art, CC BY 4.0

Dr. Lesher, ND

Ready to find the root cause?

Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.

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